Spring draft and buffer means



Nov. 10, 1936.

Original Filed Oct. 12, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 10, 1936. ND 2,060,051

SPRING DRAFT AND BUFFER MEANS Original Filed Oct. 12, 1933 4 Sheet s-Sheer. 2

5 9- T I 4. i I H J5 Elmo/who e 656/1 EEMIMQ Da%,, WLW/ Nov. 10, 1936. G. E. EDMUNDS SPRING DRAFT AND BUFFER MEANS Original Filed Oct. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 10, 1936. G E EDM ND 2,060,051

SPRING DRAFT AND BUFFER MEANS Original Filed Oct. 12, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1% WW 1* wwwzu Patented Nov. 10, 1936 5TATES ATE caries llhe Bouncy-Floyd Company,

a corporation of Ohio Application October 12,

Columbus, Ohio,

1933, Serial No. 693,379

Renewed September 4, 1936 27 Claims.

present invention relates to spring draft and buffer means for vehicles such as mine cars, the invention residing in the form and arrangement of the draft and buiier means per se as 5 well as in combination.

The principal purpose of the invention is to provide efficient draft and buffer means in strong and compact form, readily assembled for use and adaptable in use. The means by which this purpose is attained and the various attendant advantages will be most readily understood from a description of practical embodiments of the invention. Such a description will be given with reference to three embodiments shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings,

Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of a combined draft and buffer unit according to the invention;

e Figure 2 is a front elevation of the unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section substantially on the line 5-4 of Figure 3 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-4) of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a section substantially on the line t-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention, the view being partly in section substantially on line 'l-l of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the unit of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a section substantially On line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a plan View of a third embodiment of the invention, the view being partly in section substantially on line Ill-l0 of Figure 11;

Figure 3.1 is a front elevation of the unit of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a section lZ-iZ of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral ii] designates generally supporting means for draft and buff members, said means as here shown being in the form of a bracket for attachment in transversely extending relation to the front end of a car such as a mine car. Preferably, the bracket, draft means and buffer means constitute self-contained unit which may readily be secured as a whole to the car end. However, the invention is not limited in this respect and the bracket may be considered to be any suit- ,55 able means, whether or not a part Of the cal,

substantially on line proper, for the operative support of the draft and buffer means.

As here shown, the bracket an integral casting having a rear wall portion H from the ends of which project arms l2 and I3 adapted to be secured to the ends of members i4 and iii which constitute longitudinal sill members of a mine car, the bracket serving as an end sill member. The bracket has wall portions iii and ii outwardly of arms i2 and I3 and forwardly offset beyond the forward plane of wall portion H. Centrally, wall portion H is rearwardly bulged as at it to form a concave portion or pocket I!) of the cross section particularly shown in Figure 3, the side walls of the pocket being inclined inwardly and rearwardly relative to the general plane of wall portion ll.

Desirably, the bracket is stiffened by means of a rear horizontal web substantially in the plane of web 2! and between the two webs the bracket may be provided with an upstanding rib 22 to which the front wall 23, in the case of a fixed front wall, may be secured. Centrally, web 2| is provided with a relatively deep recess 24, this recess, as here shown, extending substantially back to rib 22 so that the web 2| is, in effect, separated by the recess into right and left hand portions.

A lower Web 25 extends forwardly of the rear wall of the bracket in parallel relation and beheath web 2| and centrally is slightly recessed as at 26. Webs 2! and 25 are connected by upright posts or struts 29 and 30 at the edges of recess 24 and spaced forwardly of the rear wall portion ll. Webs 2i and 25 are provided with vertically aligned apertures BI, 32, 33 and 3d, the lower apertures 32 and 3G being extended into downward protuberances 35 and 36 cast integral with web 25 and defining pockets for the reception of the lower ends of headless pins 31 and 38 whose upper ends lie in apertures 3| and 33. Protuberances 35 and 36 and the lower ends of pins 31 and 38 are transversely pierced to receive pin retaining means such as cotter pins 39 and 40 which prevent upward displacement of the pins. Pins 31 and 38, being headless, are consequently economically manufactured since they are merely cut to length from suitable bar material, and, as shown, they do not project above the top web.

A pair of hollow buffer elements Al and 42 are supported between bracket webs 2i and 25. Since the buffer elements are identical in form, a description of one will suffice and reference will be had to element 4 l.

is in the form of The buffer element 4| has a front wall 43 preferably horizontally curved at its outer end somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 3. The buffer element also has substantially parallel side walls 44 and 45 and substantially parallel top and bottom walls 45 and 47, these latter being spaced apart so as to be slidably guided between bracket webs 2| and 25. Walls 46 and 41 are provided with slots 48 and 49 elongated in the fore and aft direction and receiving pin 31 and the walls may be somewhat thickened around the slots as indicated. In the normal position of the buffer element as shown, pin 3? is in the rear end of the slots and side wall 44 projects inside of bracket end wall 21 but in sufficient spacing from the latter to permit free pivoting of the buffer element about pin 31. Side wall 44 and top and bottom walls 46 and 47 terminate rearwardly in substantially the same plane and are normally spaced from the front face of wall portion l6 as shown in Figure 3, so as to permit substantial bodily movement of the buffer element toward the latter. For a purpose which will later appear, side wall 45 is considerably shorter than side wall 44 in rearward extent, Figure 3.

As here shown, the front wall 43 of the buffer element is unsymmetrical. In positioning the buffer element at the other side of the bracket, as buffer element 42, it will be understood that the buffer element would be turned around so that the top wall 46 would become the bottom wall. Buffer element 42 is engaged by pin 38 and otherwise is associated with the bracket in exactly the same manner as described with reference to ele-' ment 4|.

The draft means comprises a pair of lever arms 59 and Arm 5| has a rounded end portion 52 received between similarly rounded fork portions 53 and 54 at one end of arm 50. A hitching member 55, here shown as a hook although it may be in any desired form, has a split end comprising portions 56 and 51 between which portions 53 and 54 of arm 50 are received. All of these portions are vertically pierced in alignment to receive a pivot pin 58 through the upper end of which a cotter pin 59 is passed above portion 55 of hook 55. The lower end of pin 58 is received in a downwardly extending collar 50 on portion 57 of the hook, the collar 80 and lower end of pin 58 being transversely pierced in alignment to receive a cotter pin 6! The central portion 62 of the lower web 25 is downwardly offset to provide ample room for the hitching means and is reinforced by a bottom rib 63. The bottom of the hook is slidable on the top surface of the offset so that its weight and the weight of any attached hitching links or the like is supported independently of the lever arms. Somewhat forwardly of the normal position of pin 58, web portion 62 is provided with an aperture 64 large enough to pass the pin.

Lever arms 50 and 5i are identical with the exception of their interconnecting ends which have just been described and further description which will be directed to arm 55 will apply also to arm 5|.

Arm 50 comprises a Vertical web portion 65, which extends substantially tangentially to the forward edge of pin 58. Web 65 extends behind the inner portion of buffer element 43 and in contact with Wall portion l i with its front face substantially in the plane of the front face of wall portion IS. The outer extremity of web 65 is turned forwardly toward pin 37 and has an enlarged boss 66 provided with an opening 61 in which pin 31 is received. As here shown, opening 6'! is elongated inwardly substantially parallel to web 65. The boss portion and web 55 are connected by top and bottom horizontal webs 68 and 69, which are spaced so as to be able to be received between the top and bottom walls 46 and 4'! of the buffer element 4|, the rear edge of wall 45 of the buffer element being spaced from the forward edges of webs 68 and 69 substantially the same distance that the rear edge of wall 44 of the buffer element is spaced from the front fall of wall portion l6. These webs, at the inner ends of the lever arms, are merged into the interleaved portions.

The vertical web element 5|] has rearwardly and inwardly extending top and bottom flanges l8 and H in the planes of webs 58 and 69. A runner or rib 12 is formed beneath webs 69 and "H and slidably supports the inner end of the lever arm on bracket web 25. A strut 72' connects the forward edges of webs 58 and 69 immediately behind post 29.

With arm 55 in the normal position shown, its rounded end portions 53 and 54 lie in the central portion of pocket l9 against or substantially against the end of the pocket, the rear edges of flanges 70 and H conforming to the incline of the pocket wall therebehind. The axis of pin 53 is in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the bracket.

Buffer element M has a pair of spring seats 13 and 74 disposed symmetrically relative to its slots 48 and 49. A compression spring l5 bearing against seat 13 with its forward end has its rear end seated against wall portion l 6 of the bracket, the spring being held in position by centering bosses on the spring seats. A similar compression spring 78 is interposed between seat 74 and arm 50, being centered on the latter by a boss 71 positioned between webs 58 and 69, all of the centering bosses being sufficiently long so that even upon extreme pivotal movements of the buffer member the springs will remain in position.

The outer end of arm 5| engages the pivot pin 33 and a compression spring 18 is interposed between bufier element 42 and arm 5!. A similar compression spring 19 is interposed between buffer 42 and wall portion ll of the bracket.

The parts have been described in the assembled relation illustrated. The manner of assembly is as follows:

The lever arms 50 and 5i are first placed in position, separately, in the bracket by inserting their inner ends behind posts 29 and 30 and then bringing their end portions 52 and 53, 54 into register. The hitching element 55 is then brought into register with the inter-engaged portions of the arms and the series of pin receiving apertures aligned above aperture 64 in the bottom web of the bracket. Pin 58 is then inserted through aperture 64- to position and cotter pins 59 and 6! inserted, the assembled elements then being moved rearwardly to the position shown in the drawings. In this position, pin 58 is held against loss not only by the cotter pins, but also by the top and bottom web portions of the bracket which overlie the ends of the pin.

The bracket is now preferably stood on its arms I 2 and I3 and the springs dropped into position. Hereupon the bufier elements are pushed into position on the springs and pins 37 and 38 inserted to complete the assembly.

Rearward movement of arms 50 and 5| is limited by the rear wall portion l I of the bracket, forward movement of the arms being positively limited by posts 29 and 30, rigid abutment means being provided for this purpose on the lever arms by the strut 12'. Outward movement of the buffer elements is positively limited by the pivot pins 87 and 38 and both bodily and swinging movements of the buffer elements rearwardly are limited through engagement of their outer side walls with the outer wall portions of the bracket and/ or their inner side walls with the respective lever arms. The inner springs 16 and 18 have their rear ends lying between the horizontal forward webs of the lever arms and seated against the forward faces of the vertical webs of the lever arms. As above mentioned, these faces are in the planes of the front faces of bracket wall portions l6 and H. Accordingly, all of the springs may be exactly the same size and length so that those associated with each buffer element will have a normally balanced effect thereon.

Upon application of draft to hitching member 55, the interconnected ends of the arms will move forwardly in pocket l9, causing the outer ends of the arms to pivot about pins 31 and 3B. The rear outer end portions of the lever arms preferably bear slidably and pivotally against the front face of bracket Wall l l, but move away from wall H upon draft application. The relation of parts may be such that the lever arms are slidably fulcrumed on the wall II alone, on the pins 31 and 355 alone, or on both, in any event being fulcrumed by the bracket. Ordinarily, the arm ends will fulcrum on Wall i l upon initial movement and then upon pins 31 and 38 as the arms move away from the wall. The elongated slots as at 61 in the arm ends permit the latter to move bodily relative to the pins as the arms are swung. Only relatively slight play is required in this respect, however. With the provision of slots such as 61, slight bodily movement of the whole draft gear transversely of the bracket sometimes occurs under draft. However, when draft is interrupted, the draft gear is again centered due to camming of its central rearwardly convexed portion into the pocket l9 by springs l8 and '58. The pocket also permits the use of a hitching element such as 55 of adequate length but disposed entirely behind the plane of farthest rearward movement of the buffer elements so as to eliminate the possibility of impacts thereon.

As arms 59 and 5! are swung away from the rear wall of the bracket all of the springs are compressed, the outer springs by reason of outward pivoting of the buffer elements about pins 3'! and 38. Under draft, therefore, the springs associated with each buffer element act in series and hence are relatively yielding. Under direct impact the buffer elements are moved bodily toward the rear wall of the bracket equally compressing their associated springs which act in parallel and hence offer relatively great resistance to movement of the buffer elements. The vertical web portions of the lever arms preferably lie against the rear wall It in the absence of draft so that impacts on the buffer element and transmitted through springs 16 and 18 are transmitted through the lever arms directly to the rear wall of the bracket, thus avoiding strain and wear on pins 31 and 38.

Somewhat lighter equipment than that just described is shown in Figure '7 to 9. In these figures, the bracket generally designated is substantially the same as the above described bracket H), except that the outer rear wall portions l6 and H of the latter may be omitted. Accordingly, in Figure '1, the forwardly projecting side wall portions BI and 82 of the bracket are shown as being in direct continuation of the rearwardly extending attachment arms. A pair of buffer elements 83 and 84 are provided and since these are identical, only element 83 will be described.

Buffer element 83 has, at its inner forward end, an advanced buiiing face 85 behind which is formed a spring seat 86 provided with a centering boss 81. The buffer has top and bottom walls 88 and 89, Fig. 9, which fit slidably between the top and bottom webs of the bracket. Outwardly of the spring seat 86 and at their rear portions, the walls 88 and B9 are provided with aligned circular apertures 99 and 9! which receive a pin 92 supported in exactly the same manner as pin 31 above described. The buffer element has an outer side wall 93 whose rear edge is immediately in advance of the bracket side wall 85. The other side wall 94 of the buffer element is positioned so as to clear post 95 of the bracket and is somewhat shorter than side wall 93.

The draft gearing is substantially the same as that hereinbefore described, comprising a pair of lever arms of which one is shown at 96, the outer end of the arm being slotted and receiving pin 92. A vertical web 91 is spaced from the central longitudinal plane of the bracket so as to lie immediately behind side wall 94 of the bracket element. Also, a further vertical web 98 at substantially right angles to web 9'! extends inwardly from the forward portion of the latter so that its marginal portion lies behind post 95. Outwardly of web 9i! and immediately behind boss 81 of the buifer element, arm 96 is provided with a boss 99 which receives the rear end of a compression spring I00, the forward end of this spring receiving boss 81. The two lever arms are interconnected in exactly the same manner as the first described lever arms and have similar hitching means IDI, Figs. '7 and 8, connected thereto.

The lever arms function in exactly the same manner as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 and in Figure '7 are shown in normal or rest position. The action of spring HIE] exerts an outward swinging tendency on the buffer element, the

action of the spring being limited by the abutment of the edges of walls 93 and 8!, as shown. Under impact on the advanced face 85 of the buffer element, the latter is swung inwardly about pin 92, this inward swinging being limited through abutment of the rear edge of wall 94 with the forward edge of web ill of the lever arm 96. Movement of the lever arm 96 away from the bracket is limited through abutment of its web 98 with post 95. Under draft conditions, the buffer element, it will be understood, is still prevented from swinging outwardly past the position shown, due to the abutment of wall portions 93 and 8!. The steps of assembly are the same as those described in connection with the first embodiment.

In Figures 10 to 12, I have shown an arrangement illustrating the use of the pivoted draft levers in combination with buffing means in the form of a single bumper. As here shown, the bracket I02 has the same width transversely of the car and as the bracket shown in Figures 7 to 9. Here, however, the forwardly extending bottom web H33 of the bracket is shown as having a curved forward edge extending uninterruptedly from side to side of the bracket. The top web comprises side portions HM and I05 and a central rear portion 86 defining a. three sided central recess. The adjacent edges of web portions I64 and 805 are parallel and upwardly thickened as particularly shown in Figure 11, the thickened edges being provided with undercut recesses I04 and I05.

A bumper I08 has top and bottom webs I08a and I 08?) received between the top and bottom webs of the bracket, the bumper webs being rearwardly extended at the bumper ends and provided with slots as at I09 elongated in the fore and aft direction, these slots receiving pins H0 and II I supported by the bracket in the manner described with reference to pins 31 and 30 of Figure 3. The pin receiving slots are preferably somewhat enlarged forwardly so as to permit free pivoting movements of the bumper as well as fore and aft bodily movements. The bumper has side webs as at H2 positioned inwardly of the forwardly projecting side walls as at II 3 of the bracket with suflicient clearance to permit the pivotal movements of the bumper. Inwardly of the slots the bumper is provided with spring seats as at II 4 provided with centering bosses as at I I5.

The same lever arm arrangement as hereinbefore described is provided. However, instead of the usual hitching member, the interconnected ends of the arms have connected thereto a clevis H6 having a forwardly projecting portion provided with a vertical opening III, the forward wall H8 of which is vertically convexed. The lower end of the clevis is received in a downwardly offset portion I20 of the lower bracket web I03, this offset portion being provided with an aperture I2I adapted to pass the clevis pin I 22.

The lever arms, of which one is shown at I23, Fig. 10, are provided with spring centering bosses as at I24 aligned with the bumper bosses, the respective bosses receiving the opposite ends of compression springs as at I25.

A drawbar I26 comprises a base plate portion I21 having parallel lateral edges received in the recesses I04 and I05 of the web portions I04 and I05 of the bracket, the lower surface of the forward portion of the drawbar plate portion being slidable on the top web of the bumper. The plate portion I21 has a rear portion I2'Ia upwardly offset so as to be slidable on the top of web portion I06 of the bracket, rearward movement of the drawbar being limited by abutment of the shoulder I 28, Fig. 8, with the forward edge of web portion I 06. To accommodate the tail portion I2Ia of the drawbar, the car wall attachment rib, if one is provided, is interrupted so that the rib comprises two portions I29 and I30. The wall I3I, Fig. 12, has a bottom cutout I32 to pass the drawbar tail portion I2Ia.

Fixed on top of the drawbar plate portion is a forwardly extending upwardly spaced tongue I33, the tongue and plate portion being provided with vertically aligned apertures to receive a draft pin I34, the top web of the bumper being provided with a cutout I35, Fig. 12, to obviate interference with the lower end of the pin. On its underside, the drawbar plate has fixed thereto a pair of ears I36 and I3! between which is received the upper end' of a lever I38, the pin and ears being pierced to receive a lever pivot pin I39 whose axis is perpendicular to the vertical central longitudinal plane of the bracket. Lever I 38 projects downwardly through opening I I! of the clevis I I6 and has its lower extremity received in an opening I40 formed in the lower bracket web I03 and backed by a thickened shoulder MI.

The normal or rest position of the parts is that illustrated. Upon application of draft to pin I34, the drawbar is moved forwardly, carrying with it the upper end of lever I 38 whose lower end fulcrums on shoulder MI. The intermediate portion of the lever bears against the forward wall H8 of opening H1 and rolls thereon as it carries the clevis outwardly, compressing the springs. Outward movement of the arms is positively limited by posts or struts as at I 42 extending between the upper web portions of the bracket and the lower web of the bracket. Impacts received by the bumper are transmitted through the springs to the lever arms which are backed by the rear bracket wall.

In assembling, clevis H6 is first placed in position and then the lever arms are introduced and connected together and to the clevis through pin I22 which, as above mentioned, is inserted through opening I2I. The drawbar is now slid to position and held against the upper walls of recesses I04 and I05, whereupon lever I38 is inserted upwardly through openings I 40 and III to position. The pin I39 is then inserted and secured by any suitable means such as the cotter pin I39, Fig. 11. The bracket is now preferably stood on its arms and the springs placed in position, whereupon the bumper may be slid in and pins H0 and III inserted to complete the assembly.

I have shown three practical embodiments of the invention as indicative of the scope thereof. It will be understood that these specific examples are merely illustrative and that the invention is susceptible of considerable variation in details of construction and arrangement. Accordingly, I do not limit myself in these respects. While the invention contemplates preferably an arrangement wherein the draft and/or buffer means constitute a self-contained unit in combination with a. bracket, it is not necessarily limited in this respect. For example, the front end of the equipped car may constitute an abutment wall for the draft and buffer elements and so function as the full equivalent of the abutment wall herein shown as a rear bracket wall and constituting a part of the bracket as such. It will be understood, therefore, that the term bracket is used in the claims without limiting intent as to integral structure such as herein specifically disclosed. Furthermore, the invention is not limited as to the manner of formation of the various main elements, which, while preferably cast, may be assembled from suitable shapes.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of the bracket and outer ends in pivotal association with the bracket, and spring means acting on the outer portions of the arms and urging the arms toward the bracket, the connected adjacent ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said spring means.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of the bracket, the bracket having surfaces behind the outer portions of said arms against which said portions bear slidably and pivotally, and spring means yieldingly holding said portions against said surfaces, the connected adjacent ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said spring means.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of the bracket and outer ends in pivotal association with the bracket, spring means acting on the outer portion of the arms and urging the arms toward the bracket, the connected adjacent ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said spring means, and centering means for said draft means comprising a central portion on said draft means convexed toward the bracket, and a concave portion on said bracket into which said convexed portion is adapted to be cammed by said spring means.

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of the bracket and outer ends having pin and slot connections with the bracket, and spring means acting on the outer portions of the arms and urging the arms toward the bracket, the connected adjacent ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said spring means.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of the bracket and outer ends having extremities turned away from the bracket, pin and slot connections between said extremities and the bracket, the bracket having surfaces behind the outer portions of said arms against which said portions bear slidably and pivotally, and spring means yieldingly holding said portions against said surfaces, the connected adjacent ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said spring means.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, buffer means movably supported by the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected and at least outer portions behind the buffer means and fulcrumed by the bracket, and compression springs interposed between said arm portions and the buffer means, the connected ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said [springs and the buffer means being movable toward the bracket against the action of said springs.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements movably supported by the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected between the bufier elements and outer portions behind the bufier elements respectively and fulcrumed by the bracket, and compression springs interposed between said arm portions and the buifer elements, the connected ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft against the force of said springs and the buffer elements being movable toward the bracket against the action of said springs.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, buffer means in pivotal connection with said bracket on horizontally spaced vertical axes, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis and having at least outer portions behind said bufier means and fulcrumed by said bracket, and compression springs interposed between said arm portions and the buffer means inwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter, the connected ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft and the buffer means being movable toward the bracket .under impact against the action of said springs.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, buffer means in pivotal connection with said bracket on bracket-supported pivot pins disposed onhorizontally spaced vertical axes, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis and outer end portions pivotally engaging said pins, and compression springs interposed between said arms and the buffer means inwardly of said pins, the connected ends of said arms being movable away from the bracket under draft and the buffer means being movable toward the bracket under impact against the action of said springs.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising abutment means, a bodily movable and pivotal buifer element, a movable draft element having a portion extending between said abutment means and bufier element, a compression spring interposed between said buffer element and said abutment means, and a compression spring interposed between said buffer element and said draft element portion, the pivoting axis of the buffer element being between said springs, the buffer element compressing the springs in parallel upon bodily inward movement under buff and pivoting under draft to enable the springs to be compressed in series by the draft element.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of buffer elements in horizontally spaced relation, said buifer elements being pivotally connected to said bracket and bodily movable toward and away from said bracket, draft means including portions extending behind said buffer elements, a pair of compression springs interposed between said portions and the bufier elements respectively, each spring being on one side of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and another pair bracket, draft means comprising a pair of leverv arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected and outer portions extending behind said buffer elements, a pair of compression springs inter-- posed between said portions and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being on one side of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and another pair of springs interposed between said buffer elements respectively and said bracket, said last-named springs being disposed on the opposite sides of the pivoting axes from the first-named springs, whereby the springs associated with each buffer element act in series upon pivoting of the buffer elements under draft and in parallel upon bodily movement of the buffer elements under impact.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of buffer elements in horizontally spaced relation, said buffer elements being pivotally connected to said bracket and bodily movable toward and away from said bracket,

draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected and outer portions extending behind said buffer elements, the outer ends of said arms being pivoted to said bracket, a pair of compression springs interposed between said portions and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being on one side of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and another pair of springs interposed between said buffer elements respectively and said bracket, said last-named springs being disposed on the opposite sides of the pivoting axes from the first-named springs, whereby the springs associated with each buffer element act in series upon pivoting of the buffer elements under draft and in parallel upon bodily movement of the buffer elements under impact.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of buifer elements in horizontally spaced relation, said buffer elements being pivotally connected to said bracket and bodily movable toward and away from said bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected and outer portions extending behind said buffer elements and bearing slidably and pivotally against said bracket, a pair of compression springs inter posed between said portion and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being on one side of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and another pair of springs interposed between said buffer elements respectively and said bracket, said last-named springs being disposed on the opposite sides of the pivoting axes from the first-named springs, whereby the springs associated with each buffer element act in series upon pivoting of the buffer elements under draft and in parallel upon bodily movement of the buffer elements under impact.

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of buffer elements in horizontally spaced relation, said buffer elements being pivotally connected to said bracket on vertical axes and bodily movable toward and away from said bracket, draft means including portions extending behind the adjacent inner ends of said buffer elements, a pair of compression springs interposed between said portions and the inner ends of said buffer elements respectively, each spring being inwardly of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and a pair of compression springs disposed between the bracket and the buffer elements respectively and out-- wardly of the pivoting axes of the latter, Whereby the springs associated with each buffer element act in series upon pivoting of the buffer elements under draft and in parallel upon bodily movement of the buffer elements under impact.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket having vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having rear portions extending between said webs and provided with vertical slots elongated in the fore and aft direction, pins passed through said webs and engaged in said slots whereby the buffer elements are pivotally and. bodily movable relative to the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis between the buffer elements and adapted to have draft applied thereto at said ends, said arms having outer portions extending behind said buffer elements and provided with apertures in which said pins are respectively received,-a pair of compression springs interposed between said outer portions and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being inwardly of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and a pair of compression springs between the bracket and the buifer elements respectively and outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket having vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having rear portions extending between said webs and provided with vertical slots elongated in the fore and aft direction, pins passed through said webs and engaged in said slots whereby the buffer elements are pivotal and bodily movable relative to the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis between the buifer elements and adapted to have draft applied thereto at said ends, said arms having outer portions extending behind said buffer elements with their extremities turned away from the bracket and provided with apertures in which said pins are respectively received, a pair of compression springs interposed between said outer portions and the buifer elements respectively, each spring being inwardly of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and a pair of compression springs between the bracket and the buffer elements respectively and outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket having vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having rear portions extending between said webs and provided with vertical slots elongated in the fore and aft direction, pins passed through said webs and engaged in said slots whereby the buffer elements are pivotal and bodily movable relative to the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis between the buffer elements and adapted to have draft applied thereto at said ends, said arms having outer portions extending behind provided with apertures in which said pins are respectively received, said outer portions also bearing pivotally and slidably against bracket surfaces therebehind, a pair of compression springs interposed between said outer portions and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being inwardly of the pivoting axis of its associated buifer element, and a pair of compression springs between the bracket and the buffer elements respectively and outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter.

19. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket having vertically spaced horizontally extending webs, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having rear portions extending between said webs and provided with vertical slots elongated in the fore and aft direction, pins passed through said webs and engaged in said slots whereby the buffer elements are pivotal and bodily movable relative to the bracket, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms having adjacent ends pivotally connected on a vertical axis between the buffer elements and adapted to have draft applied thereto at said ends, said arms having outer portions extending behind said buffer elements with their extremities turned away from the bracket and provided with apertures in which said pins are respectively received, said outer portions also bearing pivotally and slidably against bracket surfaces therebehind, a'pair of said buffer elements, and

compression springs interposed between said outer portions and the buffer elements respectively, each spring being inwardly of the pivoting axis of its associated buffer element, and a pair of compression springs between the bracket and the buffer elements respectively and outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter.

20. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements one at each end of the bracket, each of said buffer elements having a vertical slot therein elongated in the fore and aft direction, pins carried by said bracket and engaged in said slots whereby the buffer elements are bodily movable and pivotal relative to said bracket, and a plurality of spring means acting on each of said buffer elements in balanced relation at the opposite sides of the associated pin, each of said buffer elements having abutment portions at the opposite sides of the associated pin adapted to cooperate with abutment portions on the bracket whereby to limit movement toward the bracket.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having advanced bufiing faces at their inner forward ends and being in pivotal connection with said bracket on vertical axes outwardly of said faces whereby said elements are adapted to swing inwardly under impact on said faces, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms pivotally connected on a vertical 'axis between the buffer elements and having outer portions behind said buffer elements respective: ly and fulcrumed by said bracket, and compression springs interposed between the outer portions of said arms and the inner portions of said buffer elements, said springs being compressible under impact and under draft applied to the interconnected ends of said lever arms.

22. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having advanced bufiing faces at their inner forward ends and being in pivotal connection with said bracket on vertical axes outwardly of said faces whereby said elements are adapted to swing inwardly under impact on said faces, draft means comprising a pair of lever arms pivotally connected on a vertical axis between the buffer elements and having outer portions behind said buffer elements respectively and fulcrumed by said bracket, compression springs interposed between the outer portions of said arms and the inner portions of said buffer elements, said springs being compressible under impact and under draft applied to the interconnected ends of said lever arms, and cooperating abutment means between said bracket and said buffer elements outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter whereby movement of said elements under the action of the springs is limited.

23. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having advanced buffing faces at their inner forward ends and being in pivotal connection with said bracket on vertical axes outwardly of said faces whereby said elements are adapted to swing inwardly under impact on said faces, compression springs interposed be tween the inner portion of said elements and said bracket, and cooperating abutment means between said bracket and said buffer elements outwardly of the pivoting axes of the latter whereby movement of said elements under the action of the springs is limited.

24. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a horizontal bumper supported by said bracket for limited movement toward and away therefrom, a pair of lever arms behind said bumper and having adjacent inner ends in pivotal connection on a vertical axis and outer end portions fulcrumed by the bracket, a drawbar movable toward and away from the bracket above the bumper, connecting means between said drawbar and the pivotally connected ends of said lever arms, and compression springs between said bumper and said arms respectively.

25. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a horizontal bumper supported by said bracket for limited movement toward and away therefrom, a pair of lever arms behind said bumper and having adjacent inner ends in pivotal connection on a vertical axis and outer end portions fulcrumed by the bracket, a drawbar movable toward and away from the bracket above the bumper, a lever depending from said drawbar, a fulcrum for the lower end of said lever on the bracket, a connection between an intermediate portion of said lever and said arms whereby the latter are caused to move away from the bracket with said drawbar, and compression springs between said bumper and said arms respectively.

26. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bracket, a horizontal bumper supported by said bracket for limited movement toward and away therefrom, a pair of lever arms behind said bumper and having adjacent inner ends in pivotal connection on a vertical axis and outer end portions fulcrumed by the bracket, a drawbar movable toward and away from the bracket above the bumper, a lever depending from said drawbar, a fulcrum for the lower end of said lever on the bracket, a clevis connected to said arms and having a vertical opening in which an intermediate portion of said lever is engaged to form a. connection through which said arms are moved away from the bracket with the drawbar, and compression springs between said bumper and said arms respectively.

27. Apparatus of the class described comprising supporting means, a pair of horizontally spaced buffer elements having forward buffing faces, said bufiing faces having advanced inner portions merging with outer rearwardly rounded portions, said buffer elements being connected with said supporting means through pins disposed behind said outer portions, the buifer ele-' ments being confined to pivotal movement relative to said pins, compression springs operatively engaged behind the inner portions of said bufiing faces and tending to swing the buffer elements outwardly about said pins, and means limiting such swinging tendency, said buffer elements being swung'inwardly under buif to compress said springs.

GLENN E. EDMUNDS. 

